Matchroom CEO Frank Smith has ruled out a fight between Anthony Joshua and Arslanbek Makhmudov following a beating by Russian great Dave Allen last Saturday night in Sheffield, England.
(Source: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
“AJ follows his own path” – what does that mean?
Smith said Tyson Fury is one of the names that Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) is rumored to fight in 2026. Although he didn’t mention Jake Paul, he’s definitely the latter. This fight could be even bigger than Joshua vs. Fury as Jake has a much larger social media following than the aging 37-year-old Fury.
Frank is not saying that Makmudov (21-2, 19 KO) is too perilous for Joshua. Some of the shots the massive 6-foot-1/2-inch Russian hit Allen with gave AJ a lot of trouble.
Makhmudov continued to throw with tremendous power in the 11th and 12th rounds, following a twelve-round unanimous decision victory over “The White Rhino” Allen last Saturday night. Before the fight, there was a belief that Arslanbek would tire in the later rounds, lose power and become defenseless.
AJ’s question about punch resistance
This largely did not happen. In round 12 he continued to hit just as challenging as he had in the first three rounds. If Joshua gets hit by shots like Allen, it will be bad for him. It would be AJ’s second straight knockout and would spoil the money fights with Jake Paul and Fury.
“Everyone wants to fight AJ. We will obviously work with Arslanbek moving forward with the fights, but everyone wants to fight AJ,” Matchroom CEO Frank Smith said. Boxing King’s Mediain reaction to the news that Arslanbek Makhmudov said he wants to fight Anthony Joshua next, following his victory over Dave Allen last Saturday night.
Why Matchroom won’t take a chance on Joshua now
It’s understandable why Smith wouldn’t want Joshua to get even close to a fighter like Makhmudov. He is too powerful and everything is bad for him. At this point in AJ’s career, when his punch resistance seems to be gone, he would be better off fighting guys like Fury or Otto Wallin. Jake is unharmed because he is so much smaller, and the giant purse that Joshua gets will aid soften the blow of his potential loss.
Fury 2026: Still the most vital for Matchroom
“Of course it is. Everyone sees it as a huge opportunity, but… AJ is also following his own path as to what he wants to do. The [Tyson] The Fury fight is a fight that is being talked about a lot in 2026. Let’s see how things go,” Smith said.
True, Smith says Makhmoud is not in Joshua’s plans. He didn’t say who, apart from Jake, Paul will face Joshua if they fail to get the Fury fight. The “Gypsy King” is incredibly wealthy and his fortune is estimated at approx $160 million. He may not want to leave his stately home in Morecambe to return to the challenging life of a boxer and go to war with a tough boxer like Joshua.
If Tyson had the punching power of Makhmudov, I could see him returning to the ring. However, he cannot punch and would be forced to go 12 rounds to beat Joshua. It’s challenging work for anyone, especially a chubby fighter carrying over 20 pounds of excess weight around their midsection.
Bakola has been mentioned – but he doesn’t have a paycheck like Joshua’s
“He can get into massive fights,” Smith said when asked what Makhmudov can do now. “He’s in this position now, after winning in such an atmosphere on a night like this and with such a performance. He can fight Bakole.” Smith said about the option for Arslanbek.
Somehow I don’t see Makhmudov being excited about fighting Martin Bakole as a replacement option for fighting Joshua for a mega-million dollar payday. The money he will receive for fighting Bakole will not be even close to what he will receive for fighting AJ.
Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and writing for Boxing News 24 since 2014. He has been based in the UK and currently covers the world boxing scene, providing fight news, results and features that allow fans to hear the biggest stories in the sport.
With a background in reporting from the UK and Europe, Olly has developed a style that combines acute analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to dedicated followers and casual fans alike. His reports consistently highlight champions, challengers and emerging prospects on the global stage.
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